The
venuses of the Paleolithic period, with their greatly exaggerated sexual characteristics,
continued into the Neolithic with increased vigor. In the Neolithic, in addition to carved figures, thousands
of clay figures abound.

BIRD
GODDESSES

A new
type of venus appeared. This was a figurine that combined human and bird features. The figure
could also be phallic when viewed from certain perspectives.

OTHER
FEMALES

Other
female figures appeared. Some were associated with snakes; others were more inscrutable
in their nature or affiliation. Male figures occured, but in far smaller numbers.
In some instances the male divinity was realized theriomorphically,
often as a bull.

Most
scholars agree that these figurines indicate a worldview that emphasized the importance
of female fertility. While some individuals have tried to go far beyond this general
statement, there is no general acceptance of their interpretations.